PANEL
Cinema as Tool of Resistance

LILIS SOARES
Lilis Soares is a Brazilian Director of Photography, winner of the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Cinematography at the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2023 and the first woman to win Best Cinematography at FESPACO, 2023. Notable projects include the black and white feature film “Mami Wata” directed by C.J. Obasi, the Brazilian films “Um dia com Jerusa” and “Ó, paí, ó 2” directed by Viviane Ferreira, and the feature documentary “Diálogos com Ruth de Souza.” Lilis received the 2020 Helena Ignez prize for her contributions to three movies, including Mostra de Tiradentes. 

Featured film at CINÉMA AFRICAIN! Mami Wata | Cinematography by Lilis Soares

Picture: Lílis Soares on set of “Mami Wata” ©Drive Adebayo

SIMISOLAOLUWA AKANDE

From Nigeria to England, Simisolaoluwa Akande’s fascination with the art of storytelling crossed continents before expressing itself through film. Now a multi-award-winning filmmaker her films embrace a deeply collaborative and intimate approach to storytelling that provides black stories the space to be told and retold. 

Featured film at CINÉMA AFRICAIN! : The Archive: Queer Nigerians

MICHEL TSAGLI
Michel K. Tsagli was born in Dakar, Senegal. In 1992 he moved to New York where he studied sound production at NYU. His work has been featured on Lifetime, HBO, VH1, Speed Channel and Canal+ and many more. After 26 years in New York as his professional base, he relocated back to Senegal. Many of Tsagli’s projects are critically acclaimed productions, amongst them are „Tey“ by Alain Gomis (2012), „Kemtiyu, Séex Anta“ by Ousmane William Mbaye (2016), „Night of the Kings“ by Philippe Lacôte (2020) and Xalé by Moussa Sene Absa (2022).

Featured films at CINÈMA AFRICAIN! : Xalé, Timis and The Dance of the Crutches | Sound by Michel Tsagli

NADIA DENTON 

Nadia Denton has worked in the UK film industry for over a decade as an Impact Producer and Curator. She specialises in Nigerian Cinema and coined the term BEYOND NOLLYWOOD. She has worked with organisations which include the BFI London Film Festival, EFM at Berlinale, Doc Society, London Film School, Sundance Film Festival and Comic Relief. Her books include The Nigerian Filmmaker’s Guide to Success: Beyond Nollywood. She is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Exeter.